Georgian Cheese Bread

Serves 8

Ingredients

2 1/4 tsp active dry yeast
7 tbsp warm water (105 to 115 F)
1 2/3 cup all purpose flour, divided
3/4 tsp salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
1/4 lb Havarti cheese, coarsely grated
1/4 lb salted mozzarella, coarsely grated
1 tsp unsalted butter

Directions

1. Sprinkle yeast over warm water and stir in 1 tbsp flour. Let stand until creamy, about 5 minutes.
   
2. Stir together salt and remaining flour in a large bowl, then stir in egg and yeast mixture to form a dough.
   
3. Turn out dough onto a well-floured surface and turn to coat, then knead until smooth and elastic, about 5 minutes.
   
4. Form into a ball and dust with flour. Let dough rest in a bowl, covered with plastic wrap, punching down with a wet fist every hour, for at least 2 hours and up to 3 hours.
   
5. Preheat oven to 500 F with rack in the middle.
   
6. Turn out dough onto floured pizza pan, turning to coat, then flatten with your fingers into a 7" disk.
   
7. Toss together cheeses and press into a compact 3" ball with your hands. Place ball in the middle of the dough, then gather dough up around ball of cheese, squeezing excess dough into a topknot.
   
8. Press down on topknot with a damp fist to press cheese out from center. Continue to flatten dough and distribute cheese evenly, pressing outward from center, until dough is an 11" disk.
   
9. Cut a 6" X through top of dough to expose cheese.
   
10. Bake until pale golden, 10 to 12 minutes.
    
11. Brush surface of dough with butter and bake until golden and cooked through, 3 to 5 minutes more.
    
12. Cut into wedges.